Local self serve produce stand down more than $1000 it’s first month due to theft

A local farm says it may have to shut down its self-serve produce stand if theft continues.

In a Facebook post, Sylvan Grove Farms says it’s already about a thousand dollars short after its first month operating the stand in Fond du Lac County.

The farm says most customers have been honest and supportive, but claims there have been daily instances of customers taking more produce than they pay for.

The farm gives examples including customers taking 14 ears of corn but paying for six, or taking four pumpkins and paying for two. The owners also say some customers have damaged produce and left it behind.

The farm says the stand is monitored by cameras and that the incidents have been documented, but the owners say they have tried not to publicly identify those involved.

The family says it works full-time jobs in addition to running the farm and produce stand, and says continued losses could force them to close the stand.

The stand is located on Grove Street in Fond du Lac.